Ventilation in community garages, key to maintaining air health in closed spaces
superadmin
March 15, 2022
The importance of ventilation in community garages. In Spain, annually between 5,000 and 10,000 people suffer from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning with an average of 125 deaths. Carbon monoxide is a toxic, odorless, and colorless gas that can accumulate in garages lacking adequate ventilation due to the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons.
Health effects
The poisoning that occurs when breathing this gas can degenerate into clinical situations that range from nonspecific symptoms to the death of the patient. In any case, prolonged exposure, even at low levels of CO, can have adverse health effects, especially regarding cardiovascular and neurological matters.As warned by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, despite the damage that this type of poisoning can cause, there is a high rate of underdiagnosis as repeated but low concentrations of this gas are difficult to detect, resulting in a gradual increase in carboxyhemoglobin levels that can lead to diagnoses of chronic poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is found in the gases produced by boilers, kerosene heaters, vehicles whose engines are "warmed up" in garages, stoves (kitchens), portable lamps or lanterns, gas stoves (kitchens), portable generators, or the burning of coal or wood. CO from these sources can accumulate in enclosed spaces such as garages.
Air quality in closed spaces
And indeed, air quality in closed spaces is an aspect we must become aware of, not only due to the pandemic crisis derived from COVID-19. In this sense, the ventilation of parking in multifamily buildings is one of the basic systems that this requires since it produces a buildup of heavy gases produced by automobiles, especially carbon monoxide.Moreover, garages are areas that require special attention regarding ventilation, as in their usual and everyday use high levels of pollutants are generated that are dangerous to people and must be properly extracted. Furthermore, if these environments do not have optimal ventilation, they can end up spreading to all corners of the building and homes.
The maintenance of the ventilation system in garages and parking lots should be carried out periodically at intervals of about three months to ensure everything operates correctly. The frequency of maintenance tasks may vary depending on factors such as the type of ventilation employed in the garage or the characteristics of its components. In any case, if the necessary maintenance is not performed, the quality of the equipment is highly compromised to the point of losing its relevance with the subsequent repercussions for people's health. To ensure the quality and healthiness of the air are suitable for our health and comfort, garages must comply with the Technical Building Code, specifically in section HS 3 regarding indoor air quality, which determines the basic conditions for "Hygiene, health, and environmental protection."
Perhaps you want to continue reading >> Consequences of carbon dioxide in the interior of buildings and homes
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